Twenty-two HHS freshmen culinary students and their teacher, chef Tim Hayes, took a GEAR UP Tour with Site Coordinator Jackie Whitten to the University of Memphis Kennamer-Wilson Culinary Institute in Cordova, Tenn. The group met with Marta Lopez-Flohr, the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, who told the students about the history of the institute, the degrees offered by the University of Memphis, and took the group on a tour of the building.

The Kennamer-Wilson Culinary Institute had its grand opening in November of 2019. It is a world-class facility with 32,000 square feet of culinary training space containing eight classrooms in addition to two pastry kitchens, a computer lab, library, student-ran restaurant, student lounge and special event space.

Students saw the various kitchens in addition to learning about the equipment used and foods cooked at the facility and the partners with the institute. They learned that Hospitality and Resort Management students can choose to complete 24 credit hours in the culinary arts area as part of their electives for the Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Resort Management with a Culinary Arts Concentration. They can get a Culinary Essentials Certificate in a one-year comprehensive program. They also learned about non-credit and recreational classes offered at the institute.